A remarkable rescue operation in Nepal has raised fresh hopes for workers still missing after the country’s devastating August 26 flash floods. Two workers were rescued alive from a hydropower tunnel in the Trishuli region on Friday, nine days after floodwaters, mud and debris swept through the area.
The survivors were identified as Sanjay Sah, a mechanical foreman, and Kabir Maharjan, a mechanical supervisor at the Upper Trishuli 3A Hydropower Station. Both were found inside the tunnel and taken for medical treatment and observation. Reports said Maharjan was unable to move his limbs, while Sah’s injuries were not considered critical.
Why the Rescue Matters
The breakthrough has renewed hopes for hundreds of workers believed to be trapped underground. Authorities estimate that around 900 workers are missing from 12 hydropower projects, with hundreds potentially inside tunnels.
The survival of the two workers demonstrates why rescue operations have continued despite extremely difficult conditions. Thick mud, huge boulders, damaged roads and blocked tunnel entrances have slowed efforts, forcing teams to use heavy machinery, drilling and specialised search equipment.
A Wider Humanitarian Crisis
The tunnel rescue is taking place amid a much larger disaster. Nepal’s August 26 floods, likely triggered by a glacier collapse, devastated settlements and infrastructure across affected areas. More than 1,200 people have been killed, while thousands remain missing.
The disaster has also exposed the vulnerability of Nepal’s hydropower infrastructure to extreme mountain hazards.
What Happens Next?
Rescuers are now under pressure to reach other potentially survivable spaces inside damaged tunnels. The successful recovery of Sah and Maharjan provides a crucial message: time does not necessarily mean hope is lost underground.
The priority is therefore to continue searching while conditions allow and to provide immediate medical support to those rescued.
The Nepal floods have become one of the country’s worst recent disasters, but the survival of two workers after nine days offers a rare moment of hope amid the ongoing tragedy.
